Atytoselective fuse



UTED STATES PATENT QPFIC.

JOHN WALLACE TAYLOR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATOSELECTIVE FUSE.

Application filed September 11, 1918.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN WALLACE TAY- Lon, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Philadel h-ia, in the county of Philadelphiaand Sltate of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Autoselective Fuses, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is an improvement in auto selective fuses, and has for itsobject to provide mechanism in connection with the striker or plungermechanisms of artillery fuses, for neutralizing the elastic energy ofthe recoil, to prevent the premature action of the striker or plunger.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical section through the fuse mechanism of a shell;

Fig. 2 is a partial side view of the locking sleeve.

As is known, artillery fuses frequently have plunger or strikermechanisms intended to function on impact with the target. Itoccasionally occurs, however,that the striker is immediately drivenforward by the recoil from the shock of impact, before the safety devicecan recover itself, thus firing the primer prematurely. In order toneutralize the elastic energy of the recoil and so prevent the prematureaction of the striker, this invention introduces a shock pad to protectthe features concerned.

The usual delayed action fuse has a denite predetermined delay period,and, therefore, does not give maximum results. The object of the delayedaction fuse is to prevent the action of the fuse until either the targetis penetrated or the projectile comes to rest. This delayed action should vary with the resistance and must automatically be taken care ofby the mechanism of the fuse. For example, a shell striking the smokestack 0r the rigging of a ship should explode without delay in order todamage the vessel, but a shell striking the armor plate must delaysufficiently to penetrate the armor before exploding in order to attaina maximum amount of damage. It is desired to have such selective delayprojectiles pierce a tank and explode inside, penetrate a wall andexplode just in rear for destroying personnel, or enter the ground andexplode when coming to rest for maximum mining penetration to destroyemplacements.

However, delayed action fuses have been Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

Serial No. 253,532.

erratic and unsatisfactory due to the fact that the initial shock ofimpact sets ufp a vibration in the mechanism with a su ciently powerfulimpulse to cause the mechanism to function prematurely.

In order to dampen these disturbing vibrations, the present inventionintroduces a shock pad which absorbs the powerful recoil impulse andsaves the starter from being forced to act ahead of time, thuspermitting the mechanism to function properly and to give the requireddelay.

In the ordinary type of auto selective delay, the mechanism iscompletely armed by the force of impact with the target, but isprevented from functioning until the target is penetrated by the inertiaforces of the component parts of the mechanism which are sufficientduring penetration to overcome the motive power of the mechanism. As theforward part of the projectile is being retarded by the target, anyrearward and interior component parts of the mechanism exert atremendous force ahead, due to their inertia. Since this force issuddenly applied it causes an elastic deforn'lation, considerablygreater than that normally obtained with the same pressure. The metal,due to its elasticity, immediately attempts to return to a state ofequilibrium and in doing so naturally moves past the mark, setting up avibration with rapidly decreasing amplitude. The elastic energy storedup in the initial deformation of the component parts of the mechanism isalmost entirely restored on the first surge of the vibration and,therefore, the inertia upon which the mechanism depends for its brake ismomentarily neutralized and the device allowed to function.

The present invention, however, introduces a non-elastic element whichis incapable of restoring energy and, therefore, cannot neutralize theintertia of the components, and so permits the mechanism to delay untilretardation of the projectile ceases. In the present embodiment of theinvention the projectile, indicated at l, carries at its nose or pointthe usual fuse stock 2 which has threaded engagement with the projcctile and extends into the shell charge (not shown), and the firing pinhousing 3 has threaded engagement with the fuse stock at the open endthereof. The fuse stock carries a transverse partltion 4 intermediateits ends and within a central opening in the partition is threaded oneend of the detonator casing 5.

This casing has the thread-ed end closed but provided with an axialopening, outer end of the said openingis recessed or countexbored toreceive the primer casing G. The booster charge, indicated at 7, is a1'-ranged withinv the 'fuse stock between the partition t and the inner endof the stock. The cylindrical axial portion S of the iiring pinhousing,` has slidably mounted therein a firing' pin 9, the said pinbeing adapted at its pointed end to engage the primer to set ol' thecharge, and the pin is normally pressed toward the primer by a coilspring 10 which encircles the pin 'between the closed end of theextension S and an annular rib 11 on theV pin.

The rib 11 has a radially extending' latch pin 12 which engages a slot13 extending longitudinally of the cylindrical extension A8. A keysleeve 16 is mounted in the extension f5, and this key sleeve has alongitudinally extending' slot or notch 15 at its lower end iorengagement by the pin.

At its upper end the sleeve also has a notch or slot 17 which is engagedby a guide screw 1S on the extension 8. rfhe slot 13 has at its upperend a lateral extension 13a eX- tended at an oblique angle with respectto the slot. A coil spring' 19 encircles the cylindrical extension Sbetween the sleeve I6 and the body oi'l the firing' pin housing,normally acting to n'iove the sleeve vtoward the primer.

The operation of the parts just described is as follows: On the impactof the projectile with the target the locking` sleeve 1G moves forward,compressing the light retaining spring 19, and releasing the pin 12,which has been held in the portion 13 of the slot 13 tby the key sleeve1G. The inertia of the iiring pin retains the actuating spring 10thereof un-der compression, until retardation of the projectile ceases,when the spring immediately drives the pin into the primer 6, explodingthe shell.

In order to absorb the impact forces of the striker and dampen anypossible Vibration that would cause the firingpin to act and thepreniaturely a shock pad, indicated at 20, is arranged between thefiring pin or striker and the closed end of the bore of the cylindricalextension 8 of the firing' pin housinO'. This shock pad is composed ofany suitable non -elastic material, as, for instance, fiber, lead orannealed copper, and the said pad absorbs the impact force of thestriker and dampens any possible vibration. The very low coeflicient ofrestitution of lead makes it especially adapted for use in thisconnection.

I claim:

1. In a shell, the combination with the primer, the spring operatedstriker and the impact released holding' mechanism for the same, ot' asho-ck absorbing' pad between the striker and the impact end of theshell for absorbing the shock of impact and preventingr prematuremovement of the striker toward the primer.

2. In a shell, the combination with the primer, the. spring operatedstriker' and the impact released holding mechanism for the same, ot apad having` a low coeflicient of restitution between the striker and theimpact end of the shell for the purpose specitied.

3. In a shell, the combination with the auto selective fuse mechanism,of a shock pad for neutralizing' the elastic energy of recoil to preventpremature action.

4. The combination of a shock pad with a fuse mechanism to neutralizethe elastic energy of recoil and so prevent the premature action of thestriker by accident during transportation.

5. The combination of a shock pad with an auto selective delay fuse toabsorb the recoil impulse of target impact and prevent the neutralizingiof the inertia forces of the mechanism components.

(i. The combination of a shock pad with projected mechanisms to dampenthe disturbing vi'brations due to shock of target imp-act.

JOHN WALLACE TAYLOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

